Mechanical game apparatus



March i7, 1936. D. 1 ALGER MECHANICAL GAME APPARATUS `15 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 3l, 1935 Inventor 5022 Z. lgaz mmh w? i936. D. L. ALGER 34,3%

MECHANICAL GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 51, 1935 l5 SheetS-Sheet 2 Inventor D. L. ALGER March 17, 1936 GAME APPARATUS l5 Sheets-Sheet 3 MECHANICAL Filed Jan. 31, 1935 Inventm' Attomey 'March 17, 1936;

D; L, ALGER A 2,034,321

' MECHANICAL GAME vAPPARATUS Filed Jan. 5l, 1955 l5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Man-c1117, 1936. D, L. ALGER MECHANICAL GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 31, 1935 15 sheets-sheet 5 Inventor March-17, 193e. D. L. ALGER 2,034,321

MECHANI CAL GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 31. 1955 15 sheets-sheet e L Inventm March 17, 1936.

D. L. ALGER 2,034,321

MECHANICAL GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5l. v1935 l5 Sheets-Sheet 7 Inventor March 17, 1936. D. L. ALGER MECHANICAL GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 3l, 1935 1S Sheets-Sheer?, 8

NIarchv 147, 1936. D 1 ALGER 2,034,321

MECHANICAL GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5l, 1935 l5 Sheets-Sheet 9 D. L. ALGER March i7, 193@A MECHANICAL GAME APPARATUS l5 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Jan. 31, 1955 gif Inventor i073 [,ge 77 Il) )III I Atomey ch 17, i936. D. L /ALGER 2,034,321

MECHANICAL GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 3l, 1955 l5 Sheets-Sheet l1 Inventor March 17, 1936. D. L. ALGER ,034,321

MECHANICAL GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 3l, 1935 l5 Sheets-Sheet l2 March 17, 1936. D. L. ALGER 034,321

MECHANICAL GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5l, 1935- l5 Sheets-Sheet 13 Inventor March 17, 1936. D. 1 ALGER 2,034,321

MECHANICAL GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 51, 1935 15 sheets-sheet 14 I nventor Filed Jan. 51, 1955 15 Sheets-Sheet 15 Inventor Patented Mar. 17, 1936 PATENT OFFICE MECHANICAL GAME APPARATUS Don L. Alger, Avalon, Calif.

Application January 31, 1935, Serial No. 4,400

14 Claims.

My invention relates generally to motor driven game apparatus for playing games in which the object of the player or players is to manipulate balls or other projectiles into scoring areas, and an important object of my invention is to provide a. game apparatus oi" the type indicated which is iss preferably electrically driven and coin controlled.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a game apparatus of the character indicated above which is designed to operate for specified periods of time during which the player or players are allowed certain manipulations limited as to type and number, so that the player or players are required to remain alert, to decide quickly, and carry their decisions into effect at once, if the best scoring possibilities are to be availed of.

Another important object of my invention is to provide apparatus of the character indicated above which is equally adapted to projectile games involving balls, or non-spherical, regularly or irregularly shaped projectiles, so that an unlimited variety of games involving different degrees of skill and of chance may be provided for.

Another important object of my invention is to pro-vide game apparatus of the character indicated above which is comparatively simple, rugged, not easily gotten out of order, and which is readily and easily attended and repaired and which is equally adapted for home use and as a public amusement device.

Other objects and advantages oi my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description in connection with the drawings,

wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown preferred embodiments of my invention.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of a preferred embodiment showing the casing and the glass dome, the casing being shown as having an access door and coin control.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the glass dome.

Figure 3 is a top plan view ci Figure 1 showing a portion of the glass dome broken away and disclosing the revolving top with balls thereon distributed in diierent scoring circles and scoring pockets.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of Figure 1 showing the revoluble table removed and exposing the interior mechanism including the gearing which is revolved thereby and which carries the scoring table.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken through Figure 1 through the upper part of the casing showing the five individual player switches.

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional View through Figure 5 showing one of the individual player switches.

Figure 'l is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 4 at one side of the coin control.

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken through Figure 7 showing the coin control in top plan.

Figure 9 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 8 showing portions of the coin control in section.

Figure 10 is a transverse vertical sectional taken through Figure 4 at the opposite side of the coin control and showing one oi the revoluble table supporting wheels.

Figure 11 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken through Figure 4 at one side of the operating time control showing the arrangement of its setting rod.

Figure 12 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 1 at the opposite side of the operating time control.

Figure 13 is a top plan view of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a view of an upper portion of a rockable member of the operating time control.

Figure 15 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken through Figure 4 showing the construction and arrangement of the hammer mechanism and the hammer projecting device and showing the relation of the hammer to the revoluble table.

Figure 16 is a View similar to and taken at right angles to Figure 15 looking from right to left.

Figure 17 is a horizontal sectional View through a portion of the hammer operating cam.

Figure 18 is a side elevational view of the motor controlling switch showing its connection to a portion of the timing mechanism and Warning signal.

Figure 19 is a side elevational view of the timing mechanism and warning device showing it operatively connected to the clock works portion of the timing mechanism.

Figure 20 is a horizontal sectional View taken through the upper part of Figure 19.

Figure 21 is a transverse vertical sectional View I taken through Figure 4 showing the driving mechanism for the revoluble table.

Figures 22 and 23 are top plan views of revoluble tables usable in the apparatus of the invention instead of the form of revoluble table shown in the foregoing gures.

Figure 24 is a horizontal sectional viewthrough an upper part of the casing showing one oi the individual player switches.

Figure 25 shows wiring diagrams of the apparatus of the invention for the motor and for the individual player switches.

Figure 26 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of my invention showing the upper part thereof in transverse vertical section, this embodiment being particularly adapted to be used with projectiles` in the form of dice or the like.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 refers to a suitable base for resting on a table or on a platform or to be equipped with legs according to the convenience of the owner of the apparatus, from which rises a circular wall delining a casing 6 on the upper end of which is an annular rim l which telescopes on the top of the casing and which includes a moulding 9 confining the lower edge of the glass or other suitable material dome 9.

An interior annular rim I which is attached to the inner wall of the casing 6 at a point below the top thereof and particularlly well shown in Figure l0, has, mounted on the top thereof at suitable intervals grooved wheels II fixed to the rim ill by vertical axles I2 so as to overhang the radially inward edge of the rim I0, so that the groove of the wheels receives and engages the radially outward edge of the ring gear I3 which is suitably connected to the lower part of a'table supporting annulus I4 upon which rests in fixed manner the revoluble table I5.

The revoluble table I5 whose upper surface may have scoring areas laid out in the manner shown in Figures 22 and 23 or as shown in Figure 3, consists of a circular plate I6 on which are arranged concentrically spaced walls I'I, I3, I9, and forming scoring areas diminishing in value in a radially outward direction. At circumferentially spaced intervals radially outward of and adjacent to the outermost wall 26 are scoring cups 2|, 22, and 23 which have high scoring values when one of the balls 24 is holed therein. The balls 24 are preferably seven in number and made of resilient material such as rubber or celluloid, six of the balls being of the same bright color, and the seventh ball of a contrasting color.

In the table top shown in Figure 22 single-ball scoring cups 2Ict, 22a and 23a are distributed in circumferential manner and between and circumferentially spaced from segmental scoring areas 25, 26, and 2, which are spaced radially outwardly from a central circular scoring area 28.

y In the table top shown in Figure 23 a circumferentially spaced series of radially extending oval scoring areas 29 of a size and shape to hold only two of the balls are grouped concentrically around a similarly shaped central scoring top 33.

An opening in the front of the casing 6 is closed by a removable door 3| alongside of which Y is located the coin control 32 which includes the coin receiver 33 and the operating rod 34.

In using the device of the invention the player places a proper coin in the coin control receiver, then pushes the coin controlrrod, which has the effect of starting the mechanism of the device in such a way that the revoluble table begins to revolve and continues to revolve until the expiration of a predetermined period of time. During this period of time the revoluble table is struck from beneath at regular intervals by a mechanism to be described so that it has a Yslight vertical jumping movement permitted by the manner oi its connection to the casing, so that a continual rotary eff-ect and a periodic jumping effect is produced upon the balls, so that the balls roll and jump around the table. Means is provided Whereby the player may prevent the occurrence on time of the jumping action, so that the balls may come to comparative rest on the table top so as to permit ascertaining the location of the balls With respect to the scoring areas and thereby count the score; after which the player restores the periodic jumping action of the device until an advantageous scoring position of the balls has been attained, whereupon the player may again interrupt the jumping action to settle the balls and count his score. Since the apparatus is designed for operation over a predetermined period of time, say two minutes, during which the jumping action will occur live times at regularly spaced intervals, the mechanism is such that the player is limited to five stops of the jumping action during this two minute period, that is, the player can have no more than live stops, although he may use less than ve stops. It is obvious that alertness, quick decisiveness, and coordination are required to enable a player to take advantage of all ve of the stops allowed him during the two minute time, the accomplishment of which would give him a distinct advantage and possibilities of high scoring over other players not able to make the full allotted number of stops during the period mentioned. Provision is also made by means of individual switches mounted in a manner to be indicated, for individual ones of a number of players, such as ve players, to deenergize the motor which drives the revoluble table, so as to interrupt the rotation of the table during the stops, for further manipulating the scoring possibilities. It is obvious that arrangements may be made for the Vuse of different colored balls and other projectiles so that the holing of a ball of a certain color in certain of the scoring areas will score higher or lower than the holing of the same balls in other scoring areas. When the two minute period of operation of the apparatus has expired, the operation of the mechanism ceases, and in order to render the apparatus operative again or capable of being operated, another coin must be used in the coin control. Of course, Where the game apparatus is to be used in the home, the coin control may be provided to be operated by means of disks of no particular value, or the coin control may be omitted altogether.

The coin control 32 may comprise a suitable type of coin handling mechanism permissibly of conventional type including a support 35 on which is slidably mounted a coin slide 36 arranged to discharge the used coin 31 into a coin collection box 38 placed alongside the coin control, the coin slide 36 being manipulated by the operating rod 39 which projects from the lower part of the front of the casing.

The coin control which is generally ldesignated 43 is operatively connected to the stop control 4I and to the switch mechanism generally designated 42, the latter being operatively connected to the timing mechanism 43 which is operatively connected to the reducing gear mechanism 44 and the hammer 45 including actuating mechanism; and the reducing gearing 44 and the hammer assembly is operatively connected to a suitable electric motor 46 to be energized preferably by means of a cord connection to a current outlet at the place where the apparatus is loc-ated.

The motor 46 has on its shaft a worm 41 which is meshed with a worm wheel 48 xed to the shaft 49 which is supported in brackets 50 and rising from the base 5 and having at its outer end a bevel gear 52 meshed with a horizontal bevel gear 53 xed on the lower end of the shaft 54 which is mounted vertically in brackets 55, 5B on a standard which is generally designated 51. The upper end of the shaft 54 has thereon a pinion or spur 58 which is meshed with the teeth on the inner periphery of the ring gear I3 which is connected with the revoluble table l5.

Fixed to an intermediate part of the shaft 5'4 is a pinion 59 which is meshed with'the large gear 60 of the clock works or timing device, the ge'ar wheel 60 being fixed on the upper end of the shaft 6| (see Figure 19) on the lower part of which is a small gear 62 of a gear train connecting the shaft 6| with the clock works shaft 63 which has thereon the disk 64 having near its radially outward edge the vertical pin 65. The shaft 63 and the shaft 6| are supported between horizontal support members 66, 61. Also on the shaft 63 above the disk 64 is a spring arm 66 having a downwardly directed outer end part 69 which is engageable with an arm 10 on a shaft 1| also supported between the members 66 and 61 and having projecting therefrom the bell harnmer 12 which is arranged to strike the warning bell 13 which is supported in convenient relation thereto. A suitable spring arrangement 14 engaged with a post 15 extending between the members 66 and 61 engages the shaft 1| to keep the bell hammer normally away from the bell 13. Movement of the shaft 63 in a clockwise direction, in Figure 2|), will engage the arm 68 with the arm 16 and cause the bell hammer to strike the bell 13.

The pin 65 is adapted to engage one side of a horizontal lever 16 which is rockable and slidably mounted on an axle 11 supported in a vertical position by a bracket 18 and normally pressed to a downward position by a coiled spring 19 interposed between the upper end of the bracket 18 and the upper side of the lever 16. A bracket 60 mounted on the back of the bracket 18 has a pivot 8| pivoting the fork 82 which is located under the lever 16 for raising the same against the tension of the spring 19. The outer end of the lever 16 has pivoted thereto a link 83 which is operatively connected to the switch mechanism 42 and is normally pulled in one direction by a spring 94 having its opposite end anchored as indicated at 95. The lifting fork 82 has pivoted thereto a link 86 which is pivoted to an arm 81 to be described. The arrangement of the above described parts is such that when the pin 65 strikes the lever 16 a pull is exerted on the link 83 so that the switch mechanism 42 is thrown off and the apparatus stopped, at the end of the two minute period of time required for the rotation of the disk 64 by the arrangements indicated. The operating time of the game can be simply lengthened or shortened by changing the size of the gearing. At the approach of the expiration of the time period the bell 13 is caused to sound, so as to warn the player of the approach of the end of the playing period so that he may judge his use of the stop manipulations.

Referring particularly to Figures and 16, it will appear that a shaft 99 is carried by the supports 59 and 5| above the shaft 49, the shaft 49 having a gear 9| meshed with a gear 92 on the shaft 90. On the inward end of the shaft 90 is an internal cam 93, arranged to make approximately nineteen (19) revolutions per minute, and to engage a roller 94 which is mounta ed on a plate 95 which has vertically spaced pairs of slide brackets 96, 91 which slide on trans versely spaced rods 93, 99 which are mounted or. the base 5 and rise to a level close to the underside of the table |5. The upper end of the plate 95 carries a diametrical cross member |00 whose outer ends are attached as indicated I0| and |92 to the inner side of a metal semi-annulus |03 on the radially outward side of which is attached a a rubber or leather annulus |64 by the same a'ttaching means |6| and |02, which extends above and below the annulus |93, and whose upper edge is adapted to strike the underside of a shock absorbing and sound deadening plate |05 which may be leather vor rubber or other suitable ma terial for this purpose and which is attached to the underside of the center of the table l5, so that the hammer comprising the mechanism described immediately above may strike the underside of the table and give the same a vertical jumping action when the cam 93 is so turned as to disengage from the roller 94 and permit the hammer propelling arm |96 to throw the ham-mer upwardly.

The inner end of the propelling arm |06 is pivotally connected by means of a link |01 toy a bracket |08 on the plate 95 and the outward end of the propelling arm |06 is xed to the spring shaft |61 between the two spring housings |09 and I0, in such a way that a middle portion of the spring within the housing operatively engages the lower side of the propelling arm |06 as shown in Figures 4 and 15. Each of the housings has a ratchet wheel H2, H3, respectively, the housings and the shaft |98 being mounted on a suitable support i4 on the base 5. Ratchet pawls (not shown) within the support ||4 engage the ratchet wheels mentioned so as toretain the springs tensioned and to permit tensioning the springs through the action of the arm |06 when the hammer is depressed by the cam 93; so that when the cam releases the ham mer the springs throw the arm |96 upwardly and raise the hammer so as to: cause the same to strike the underside of the revolving table. The annular hammer is broken at the point indicated by the numeral l5 so that in its depressed position it will clear the shaft 96 without interfering with the operation of any of the parts concerned. Bracket arms ||6 and I1 connected to the outer ends of the plate 95 as indicated at ||8 and ||9 are connected to the annulus |93 soas to brace the hammer in proper position.

The switch mechanism generally designated 42 includes the support generally designated 89' which carries the switch box 89 having the switch lever 90 projecting upwardly from the box and pivoted as indicated at 9| t0 a link 92 which has its opposite end pivoted as indicated at 93 to the upper end of an arm 94 which is fixed on a shaft to be described. The right hand of the link 92 is furcated as appears in Figure 4 and embraces the upper end of the switch lever 99', and to one of the furcations is connected the link 83 with which thel right hand end of the spring 84 is connected, the spring 84' operating to position the described parts in the left hand extreme position indicated in Figures 4 and 18.

Supported in brackets 95 are the horizontal shafts 96 and 91, the outer shaft 96' being'tubular and turning on the inner shaft 91', these shafts being arranged approximately at right angles to the links 92 and 36 and the shaft 91 extending beyond the end-of the shaft 96 and having an arm 98' upstanding thereon and connected to one end of the link 99 which is pivoted to the lower arm of the bell crank |00 on the stop mechanism generally designated 4|. The arm 81 with which the link 86 is connected is xed on the outer shaft 96' while the arm to which the link 92 is connected is on the inner shaft 91. Another shaft |0| mounted in suitable brackets |02' on the base has an arm |03 the outer end of which is connected to one end of a link I 04 whose opposite end is connected to a member of the coin control 40; and the shaft |0I has another arm |05' whose upper end is pivoted to one end of a link |06 whose opposite end is pivoted as indicated at |01 to a member of the stop control mechanism. A link |08 positioned below the link |04' is connected to the lever |09 of the coin control, the opposite end of the link |03 being 'connected to an arm ||0 which is fixed on the outer shaft 96.

The coin control 40, as already indicated, is of a suitable type including the already mentioned support 35 and the slide 36 with which the member on the opposite side of the support 35 is connected. The coin slide operating handle 39 is connected to the member as is the upper part of the lever |09 which engages the member |I| through a pin and slot connection generally designated ||2, the lever |09' having its lower end pivoted as indicated at ||3 on the base 5 and having connected to its upper end the helical spring I I4 normally positioning the lever |09 as shown in Figure '7. It is obvious that when the coin has been properly introduced into the coin receiver and the rod 39 pushed inwardly, the coin will be properly handled to permit the slide to move in a right hand direction so as to operate the lever |09 and the links |04 and |08 connected thereto, so that the shafts 96', 91, and |0| will be operated from their initial inoperative positions to operative positions, thereby throwing on the switch mechanism 42 and setting the stop control mechanism 4|, so that the motor 46 is energized and the table begins to turn and the hammer to operate at the stated intervals.

The stop control mechanism includes the standard I5 mounted on the base 5 and carrying a shaft or axle IIS at an intermediate point thereof on which the bell crank |00 is rockably mounted and on which the cam-shaft plate I |1, and the toothed wheel I I8 are rotatably mounted. A pin H9 above the axle II6 traverses both the plate ||1, and in the wheel ||8 and works in a slot ||9', in the plate ||1 and the longer circumferential slot |20' in the wheel IIB so as to limit the rotation of these rotatable members under the action of the spring I2| which is anchored as indicated at |22 in the axle I |6 and has an arm connected to the circumferential part of the wheel ||8 as indicated at |23, the spring |2| being coiled on the axle ||6 as indicated at |24 in Figure 13.

The arm |25 of the bell crank |00 has its outer end pivoted as indicated at |26 to the lower end of a link |21 whose upper end is pivoted as indicated at |28 to an arm |29 which is threaded on a threaded part |30 on the control rod |32 and locked in position by a lock nut 13|. The control rod |32 has its lower part telescoping in a socket |33 containing a spring normally pushing it upwardly and has its upper part |34 passing upwardly through an opening in the rim 1. An angulated part |35 of the rod |32 is arranged .to engage an angulated part |36 on a block |31 attached to the inside of the casing whereby upward movement of the rod I 32 is limited at the required elevation.

On the arm or block |29 is a pivot |38 carrying a pawl |39 engageable with each one of the five ratchet teeth |40 on a part of the circumference of the wheel H8', and a spring arrangement |40 on the block |29 holds the pawl |39 in the position shown in Figure 12 so that the wheel IIB is prevented from turning in a clockwise direction by the pawl |39 but may be turned in a counterclockwise direction until the end of the slot |20 is reached by the pin ||9. Each of the ratchet teeth |40 represents a stop, and when the last tooth has been engaged in. the manner in which the first tooth is shown engaged in Figure 12 by the pawl |39, the apparatus is rendered inoperative if the wheel is turned in a counterclockwise direction beyond the last tooth toward the end of the slot |20. The plate ||1 has on its upper edge cut away portions |42 and |43 which provides teeth to be engaged by the pawl |44 which is pivoted as indicated at |45 on one side of the upper part of the support ||5 and yieldably held in position a spring |46 so that the plate II1 cannot be rotated in a clockwise direction (in Figure l2 or in counterclockwise direction in Figure 11) but may be rotated in the opposite direction, the movement thereof being carried through the link |96.

When it is desired to make one of the stops heretofore described, the rod |32 is pushed downwardly following a stroke of the hammer and before another stroke of the hammer takes place. When the rod |32 is pushed downwardly the pawl |39 engages the toothed wheel I6', thereby causing the wheel |I8 to turn sufciently to permit the pawl |44 to fall into the next tooth, thereby preventing the wheel |18 from being turned in the opposite direction when the plunger is released, such a tendency existing through the action of the spring |2|. The player holds the rod down until his score is confirmed and upon releasing the plunger the machine instantly resumes operation. It is obvious that as the plunger moves down the bell crank |00 is tilted so as to transmit motion through the link |39 and one of the shafts mentioned to the link 92 which thereby throws the switch 42 off and stops the motor 46. When the player releases the rod |32 the switch is instantly thrown on again by the action of the coil spring 84. When the period of play is up and the apparatus has stopped, the wheel ||8 is not in its original initial position if the player has consumed the ve stops permitted him or a less number of stops, as will be evident. This wheel ||8" is brought back to its original position by the operation of the coin control which works through the shaft |0| and the link |06 to restore the wheel II8 through operating the plate ||1. It will be obvious that as the block |29 moves with the rod |32 the engagement of the described pawls with the wheels is changed so that the wheel is freely rotated toward its initial position by the spring I 2|. The pushing in of the plunger 39 acts through the shaft |0| to push the plate I1 in a direction to rotate the same so that its periphery engages and releases the pawls |44 and |39 so that the wheel ||8 may be rotated by its spring I2| toward the initial position of the wheel ||8. Y

In a suitable groove |50 in the top of the rim 1 and below the annulus 8 are located electrical conductors |5| in which are interposed individual manual switches each generally designated |52 and each having an operating handle |53 projecting in the position indicated in Figure 6. There may be iive or more or less of these switches according to the number of players, so that a switch may be assigned to each player which he will operate to stop the functioning of the apparatus as may be desired to conrm his score. Such an arrangement which is especially valuable where a certain colored ball is assigned to each individual player and it becomes to his interest to stop the operation of the apparatus when his particular ball has come into a scoring position, so as to enable him to arrest the operation of the machine in such an instance and thereby secure conrmation of the position and score ascribable to his particular ball at that moment.

Reference to Figure 26 will disclose another embodiment to the invention comprising the casing 6a on the base 5d, the upper end of the casing being surmounted by a rim la and a retainer 8a returning a glass globe 9a having at its center the sharply depressed portion 9b instead of the comparatively shallow rounded depression S' of the globe 9 of the iirst described embodiment.

Meeting the lower edges of the globe 9a the present embodiment has a saucer-shape |66 having a suicient slant toward a central opening |6| to insure the traveling to the opening |6| of any projectiles such as balls or dice from a radially outward position on the saucer-shape |60 to the opening IBI. A supporting portion |62 is held in position by brackets |63 on the interior of the casing 6a, the latter being spaced from the revolving table |50, on which the dice |64 or the like projectiles are adapted to come to rest. The center of the table has a vertically movable plate |65 located under the opening |6| and Working on slide guides |66 fastened to the top of the table. The hammer structure generally designated 45a engages the underside of the member |65. The mechanism for driving the rotatable table |5a and the hammer 45a is substantially the same as the mechanism contained by the already described embodiment. It will be obvious that as the dice |64 or the like projectiles are thrown in an upward direction by the jumping of the table portion |65 from an impact of the hammer', that the dice will strike the divergent walls of the depending Dart 9b of the globe 9a and as a result be directed radially outwardly so as to eventually fall on the saucershape |60 and travel into the opening |6| and upon the table portion |65. Inasmuch as the presently described embodiment may contain a selective stop mechanism for the hammer and has individual switches for deenergizing the motor, the table and the hammerl may be stopped as desired by the players so as to cause the dice |64 or the like to assume relatively stationary positions on the table portion |65 to enable recording and confirming the score.

Although I have shown and described herein preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of the invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in the materials, and in the structure and arrangement of the parts, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:-

1. Ball game apparatus comprising a casing including a base, a revoluble table mounted in the casing, said table having a portion capable of limited vertical movement, first means for revolving the table, second means for striking the underside of the table for producing said vertical lmovement thereof, the first and second means being simultaneously operable for causing movement of projectiles along and from said table.

2. Ball game apparatus comprising a casing including a base, a revoluble table mounted in the casing, said table having a portion capable of limited vertical movement, iirst means for revolving the table, second means for striking the underside of the table for producing said vertical movement thereof, the rst and second means being simultaneously operable for causing movement of projectiles along land from said table, the iirst mentioned means including an electric motor, gearing interposed between the motor and said table, and timing means connected to said gearing, and switch means interposed between the motor and a suitable source of electrical enei'gy and arranged to be opened by said timing means at the expiration of a period of operation of the apparatus.

3. Ball game apparatus comprising a casing including a base, a revoluble table mounted in the casing, said table having a portion capable of limited vertical movement, rst means for revolving the table, second means for striking the underside of the table for producing said vertical movement thereof, the rst and second means Vbeing simultaneously operable for causing movement of projectiles along and from said table, selective stop mechanism, switch mechanism interposed between the motor and a source of electrical energy, said stop mechanism being operatively connected to said switch means, said stop mechanism being arranged to be operated during the functioning of the apparatus soi as to throw said switch means to an open position and postpone the operation of the hammer means, said stop mechanism also being operable to condition the resumption of operation by sai-d harnmer means.

4. Ball game apparatus comprising a casing including a base, a revoluble table mounted in the casing, said tab-1e having a portion capable of limited vertical movement, first means for revolving the table, second means for striking the underside of the table for producing said vertical movement thereof, the first and second means being simultaneously operable for causing movement of projectiles along and from said table, selective stop mechanism, switch mechanism interposed between the motor and a source of electrical energy, said stop mechanism being operatively connected to said switch means, said stop mechanism being arranged to be operated during the functioning of the apparatus so as to throw said switch means to an open position and postpone the operation of the hammer means, said stop mechanism also being operable to condition the resumption of operation by said hammer means, and coin controlled means opera.- tively connected to said stop mechanism and said switch means for returning the same to initial operative position after operation.

5. Ball game apparatus comp-rising a casing including a base, a revoluble table mounted in the casing, said table having a portion capable of limited vertical movement, first means for revolving the table, second means for striking the underside of the table for producing said vertical movement thereof, the iirst and second means being simultaneously operable for causing move- 

